镜花水月 Mirror flowers, water moon
Explanation
比喻虚幻的景象或不切实际的追求。
It is used to describe an illusion or an unrealistic pursuit.
Origin Story
唐代诗人李白的诗歌中，经常出现“镜花水月”的意象，他用它来形容诗歌中飘渺虚幻的意境，以及人生的短暂和梦幻。后来，人们便用“镜花水月”来比喻虚幻的景象或不切实际的追求。例如，一位年轻的书生梦想着成为状元，但他不努力学习，只沉迷于幻想，最终一事无成，他的梦想就像镜花水月一样，虚无缥缈。又如，一位商人做生意亏损累累，但他仍然抱有幻想，期望能够一夜暴富，他的期望也是镜花水月，难以实现。
In the poems of the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, the image of "mirror flowers and water moon" often appears. He used it to describe the ethereal and illusory atmosphere in his poems, as well as the fleeting and dreamlike nature of life. Later, people used "mirror flowers and water moon" to describe an illusion or an unrealistic pursuit. For example, a young scholar dreams of becoming a high-ranking official, but he does not study hard and only indulges in fantasy, ultimately accomplishing nothing. His dream, like mirror flowers and water moon, is fleeting and unreal. Another example is a businessman who has suffered many business losses, but he still clings to illusions, hoping to become rich overnight. His hopes are also like mirror flowers and water moon, difficult to achieve.
Usage
用于形容虚幻的事物或追求。
Used to describe something illusory or an unrealistic pursuit.
Examples
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他的想法如同镜花水月，虚无缥缈。
tā de xiǎngfǎ rútóng jìng huā shuǐ yuè, xūwú piāomiǎo
His ideas are like a reflection in a mirror, unreal and ethereal.
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追求名利，不过镜花水月一场空。
zhuīqiú mínglì, bùguò jìng huā shuǐ yuè yī chǎng kōng
The pursuit of fame and fortune is just an illusion, like a mirage, in vain and nothingness.